Prep boys golf: Brighton claims 5A title in playoff

Riverton • Brighton golfer Jacob Byers knew his team let a nine-shot lead evaporate on day two of the 5A state golf tournament.

He stood over a 4-foot putt in a four-person winner-take-all playoff against Lone Peak. The Knights' Nick Emery stood next to Byers with virtually the same putt.

Byers could have succumbed the pressure Tuesday at Riverbend Golf Course.

He instead sunk the 4-footer, with a rock-solid birdie that rolled to the center of the cup.

Emery then slipped his attempt just left, and the Bengals knew the state championship was theirs.

"I was having a problem with the flat stick all day, so I was extremely happy to see that putt fall", Byers said.

When the tie was announced, Byers and his teammates gathered and had a brief talk about not thinking too much about the playoff.

"I just said here we go, we've been playing good all week, let's just go play one more good hole and see what we can do here," Byers said.

That Lone Peak scrambled for the tie was a feat in itself.

The Knights shot the low team round of 286, led by Conner Copeland's 69 and Emery's 70, but they ended up falling short by two strokes on the playoff hole.

"I'm really proud of my guys for battling back today and showing the guts and determination they did," Lone Peak coach Tyler Pack said.

The battle for medalist honors saw a roller-coaster round between Region 2 opponents Austin Banz of West and Granger's Henry Leng, who were paired together on day two.

Banz struggled early, dropping three strokes, then watched Leng string together five consecutive birdies. Leng shot a day-two best 67, but Banz put together a birdie binge of his own to finish with a 137 to nip Leng by two shots.

"I was three up with like seven to go, and he hit that birdie streak," Banz said. "My putting was solid all tournament, and winning this tournament was something I always wanted to do." Class 5A team scores

Brighton: 290-294—584

Lone Peak: 298-286—584

Davis: 304-300—604

Fremont: 309-300—609

Syracuse: 299-310—609

Viewmont: 301-310—611

Bingham: 303-312—615

Alta: 306-315—621

American Fork: 305-321—626

Pleasant Grove: 306-325—631

Weber: 309-329—638

Class 5A individual top 10

Austin Banz, West: 67-70—137

Henry Leng, Granger: 72-67—139

Jacob Byers, Brighton: 70-71—141

Nick Emery, Lone Peak: 75-70—145

Connor Copeland, Lone Peak: 76-69—145

Dylan Chugg, Fremont: 71-74—145

Alex Herzog, Fremont: 75-70—145

Charlie Duensing, Brighton: 73-73—146

Rhett Rasmussen, Alta: 74-72—146

Kalin Peterson, West Jordan: 72-74—146